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Clerk 10/9/2008
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A MOTION supporting the Puget Sound Meat Producers Co-operative in their efforts to develop a United States Department of Agriculture-inspected mobile slaughter facility and to revive the regional livestock industry and keep valuable farmland in agricultural production.
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WHEREAS, the continuation of agricultural production by local farmers is important to King County, and
WHEREAS, the Rural Economic Strategies identifies agriculture as a key cluster of the rural economy, and
WHEREAS, there are no United States Department of Agriculture-inspected ("USDA-inspected") slaughter facilities located locally, and
WHEREAS, this makes it difficult and costly for local farmers to process their livestock and poultry, and
WHEREAS, many farmers have discontinued or are planning to discontinue their livestock operations because of the lack of USDA-inspected slaughter facilities in the area, and
WHEREAS, the King County agriculture commission supports the development of infrastructure that enhances the economic viability of agriculture in King County, and
WHEREAS, the Rural Economic Strategies (RES-A3) states the county's intent to explore opportunities to provide USDA-inspected slaughter unit or units, and
WHEREAS, the Puget Sound Meat Producers Co-operative ("PSMPC"), including farmers, butchers, restaurateurs and other interested parties, was formed to develop better ways to produce, process and market locally raised meat for local consumers consistent with United States Department of Agriculture inspection standards, and
WHEREAS, one goal of the PSMPC is to establish a new mobile slaughter unit that will allow farmers to participate in the local market without having to transport their product long distances for slaughter, and
WHEREAS, one hundred sixteen livestock owners in King, Pierce, Kitsap, and Thurston counties indicated they would use the mobile slaughter facility in response to a recent survey, and
WHEREAS, PSMPC has received commitments totaling more than $300,000 from contributors, including the Pierce Conservation District, the King County department of natural resources and parks, Cascade Harvest Coalition, Washington State Farm Bureau and local farmers, as well as in-kind contributions from the city of Enumclaw, Washington State University Small Farms, King County Washington State University Extension and the University of Washington, and
WHEREAS, only a few items are still to be funded, including a truck to pull the trailer, promotion/marketing assistance and a shuttle truck for deliveries to meat shops, and
WHEREAS, PSMPC is committed to the mobile slaughter facility which will increase the profitability of local farmers by allowing them to access the value-added marketplace with their products, reduce the miles locally grown food needs to travel to market, provide opportunities to enhance the safety of locally grown meat, and encourage livestock farmers to strengthen stewardship and sustainability and support humane livestock production;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The King County council hereby expresses support for the Puget Sound Meat Producers Co-operative in its efforts to develop a USDA-inspected mobile slaughter facility and to revive the regional livestock industry, thus keeping valuable farmland in agricultural production.
B. County staff and King County agriculture commissioners are requested to work with the Puget Sound Meat Producers Co-operative by continuing to provide
technical assistance and by helping to identify appropriate funding sources to assist in achieving the goal of providing local USDA-inspected slaughter facilities.